Public Health Adaptation to Climate Change: Air Quality Challenges

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1 Public Health Adaptation to Climate Change: Air Quality Challenges George Luber, PhD Climate and Health Program Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects National Center for Environmental Health Air Quality Applied Sciences Team 8th Semi-Annual Meeting December 3, 2014 National Center for Environmental Health Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects

2 2014: Two Major Reports

3 Climate Change Science: Key Findings Climate change is altering both the average (mean) global temperature and the global frequency of extremely hot temperatures (variance) The impacts of climate change will vary significantly by region; some places are warming faster than others.

4 0.5 Summer Temperatures Cooler than average Baseline ( ) mean Frequency of Occurrence Ave rag e Warmer than average Deviation from Mean Source: NASA/GISS; Hansen, et al., Perceptions of Climate Change, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA , August 2012

5 0.5 Summer Temperatures Cooler than average Baseline ( ) mean Frequency of Occurrence Ave rag e Warmer than average Extremely hot Deviation from Mean Source: NASA/GISS; Hansen, et al., Perceptions of Climate Change, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA , August 2012

6 0.5 Summer Temperatures Cooler than average Baseline ( ) mean Frequency of Occurrence Ave rag e Warmer than average Extremely hot Deviation from Mean Source: NASA/GISS; Hansen, et al., Perceptions of Climate Change, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA , August 2012

7 0.5 Summer Temperatures Cooler than average Baseline ( ) mean Frequency of Occurrence Ave rag e Warmer than average Extremely hot The extreme temperature events used to cover 0.1% of the Earth. Now they cover 10% Deviation from Mean Source: NASA/GISS; Hansen, et al., Perceptions of Climate Change, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA , August 2012

8 Warming has varied significantly by region (observed record)

9 Climate Change and Health: Key Findings Climate change threatens health in many ways Some of these impacts are already underway in the US Climate change will amplify existing health threats. Certain people and communities are especially vulnerable, including children, the elderly, the sick, the poor, and some communities of color. Public health actions, especially preparedness and prevention, can do much to protect people from some of the impacts of climate change. Early action provides the largest health benefits.

10 Key Health Threats Morbidity and Mortality by a thousand cuts Impacts add to the cumulative stresses currently faced by vulnerable populations and in locations most vulnerable to extreme events & ongoing, persistent climate-related threats 10

11 Impact of Increased Ozone: Projected Increase in ED Visits for Asthma in 2020 Source: Sheffield PE, Knowlton K, Carr JL, Kinney PL Modeling of Regional Climate Change Effects on Ground-Level Ozone and Childhood Asthma. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 41(3):

12 Climate Change Impacts Air Quality: Pollen Ragweed CO 2 and temperature Pollen counts, longer growing season Source: Ziska et al., J Allerg Clin Immunol 2003;111:290-95; Graphic: Wall Street Journal, 3 May 2007.

13 Climate Change Impacts Air Quality: Wildfire Smoke Wildfire Activity Since 1970 Since 1970 Western US wildfire season increased by 78 days Average duration of fires increased five fold Westerling et al. Warming and earlier spring increase western U.S. forest wildfire activity Science Aug 18;313(5789):940-3

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15 What is CDC doing to prepare for health effects of climate change? CDC helps states and cities prepare for health challenges of climate change by Providing scientific guidance Developing decision support tools Ensuring public health concerns are considered in climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies Creating partnerships between public health and other sectors CDC s Climate and Health Program only Federal investment in climate change preparedness for public health sector

16 Climate-Ready States and Cities Initiative CDC effort to enhance capacity of state and local health agencies to deal with health challenges associated with climate change CDC accomplishes this by Funding 18 state and local health departments Providing a framework [BRACE} and tools for planning, implementing, and evaluating climate adaptation strategies Tools to identify populations and places vulnerable to climate impacts Materials to help communicate climate and health issues to public health partners (e.g., extreme heat toolkit)

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18 1 Forecasting Climate Impacts and Assessing Vulnerabilities 5 Evaluating Impact and Improving Quality of Activities Building Resilience Against Climate Effects 2 Projecting the Disease Burden 4 Developing and Implementing a Climate and Health Adaptation Plan 3 Assessing Public Health Interventions Climate and Health Program, National Center for Environmental Health

19 George Luber, PhD GLu b c.g o v For more information please contact Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA Telephone: CDC-INFO ( )/TTY: cdcinfo@cdc.gov Web: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Environmental Health Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects